Commandant's Office, Washington Navy Yard

Commandant's Office, Washington Navy Yard
Commandant's Office, Washington Navy Yard
View from the north, 1972
Commandant's Office, Washington Navy Yard is located in Washington, D.C.
Location: Montgomery Sq. and Dahlgren Ave., SE., Washington, District of Columbia
Coordinates: 38°52′23″N 76°59′43″W / 38.87306°N 76.99528°W / 38.87306; -76.99528Coordinates: 38°52′23″N 76°59′43″W / 38.87306°N 76.99528°W / 38.87306; -76.99528
Area: less than one acre
Built: 1837
Governing body: Federal
NRHP Reference#: 73002077[1]
Added to NRHP: August 14, 1973

The Commandant's Office in the Washington Navy Yard, also known as Building One, Quarters J, or the Middendorf Building is the U.S. Navy's oldest active office building, which historically housed the offices of the Commandant and other officers of the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. It sits at the south end of Dahlgren Avenue, the Yard's main road, two blocks south of the Latrobe Gate near the Anacostia River. It now serves as offices for the Naval Historical Center. It was likely built from 1837 to 1838 and first appears on a map of the yard in 1842. In 1973 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[2]

History

View from the south, 1972
Dahlgren Ave. leading to the Commandant's Office at the bottom of the photo

A building for officers' use at the Yard was first proposed in 1828 and is shown on a 1842 map. Though clear records of the construction have not been found, proposed improvements of $2,500 in 1837 and $2,000 in 1838 were made for a "Building for officers."

George Watterson described the building in 1842 in his New Guide to Washington as "a neat and beautiful building of brick, two-stories high, with verandas running all around it, has lately been erected as offices, for the officers and others doing business in this establishment." A trophy park just south of the building "consisted of a semi-circle of captured Naval cannons graduated from the center by size with other guns and stacks of round shot placed between this semi-circle and the office." The park was built before 1842 and eliminated about 1945.[2]

Commandant John Adolphus Dahlgren, who was given command of the Yard just before the Civil War, gave up the Commandant's House where he had lived, for the use of the officers of the 71st New York Regiment. He then slept and dined in the room across from his office in Building One. President Abraham Lincoln often visited Dahlgren at his offices, stating "I like to see Dahlgren. The drive to the Navy Yard is one of my greatest pleasures. When I am depressed, I like to talk with Dahlgren. I learn something of the preparations for defense, and I get from him consolation and courage."[3]

In 1873 the building was renovated and expanded. In 1941 it became a post office and communications center, then in 1948 was remodeled to serve as officer quarters and renamed Quarters J. In 1976 the building became the Yard's visitors center and also housed the Navy Sea Cadets. It returned to use as offices after a 1993 renovation.[3]

References

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
  2. ^ a b Leonard Gerson and T. Robbins Brown, 1973, NRHP Nomination Form
  3. ^ a b The Washington Navy Yard's Building One: The Middendorf Building and Historic Commandant's Office, Naval Historical Center, accessed August 15, 2011



Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Washington Navy Yard — This article is about the naval yard in Washington, D.C.. For the neighborhood in Washington, D.C., see Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.. Washington Navy Yard U.S. National Register of Historic Places …   Wikipedia

  • Commandant's Quarters — or Commandant s House may refer to: Commandant s Quarters (Dearborn, Michigan), listed on the NRHP in Michigan Commandant s Quarters (Fort Gibson, Oklahoma), listed on the NRHP in Oklahoma Commandant s House (Walnut Ridge, Arkansas), listed on… …   Wikipedia

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington, D.C. — This is a list of properties and districts in the District of Columbia on the National Register of Historic Places. There are more than 500 listings, including 74 National Historic Landmarks of the United States and another 13 places otherwise… …   Wikipedia

  • U.S. Navy Museum — logo Established 1961 Location Washington, D.C., USA Type …   Wikipedia

  • List of National Historic Landmarks in Washington, D.C. — This is a List of National Historic Landmarks in the District of Columbia, of which there are 75. The United States National Historic Landmark program is operated under the auspices of the National Park Service, and recognizes structures,… …   Wikipedia

  • History of the United States Navy — United States Navy …   Wikipedia

  • Thomas Washington — Infobox Military Person name=Thomas Washington lived= birth date|1865|6|6 ndash; death date and age|1954|12|15|1865|6|6 caption=Admiral Thomas Washington, 1919 nickname= placeofbirth= Goldsboro, North Carolina placeofdeath= Bethesda Naval… …   Wikipedia

  • Washington, D.C. in the American Civil War — President Lincoln insisted that construction of the United States Capitol continue during the Civil War. As capital of the United States, the federal district of Washington, D.C., became a significant civilian leadership, military headquarters,… …   Wikipedia

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in the District of Columbia — This is a list of historic properties and districts in the District of Columbia on the National Register of Historic Places.: This National Park Service list is complete through [http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/nrlist.htm NPS recent listings]… …   Wikipedia

  • Philippine Navy — Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas Philippine Navy Emblem Founded 20 May 1898[1] …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”